Hip rest



Oct. 7, 194 1. I LARKINV 2,257,848

HIP REST Filed Sept. 20, 1949 2 SheetS Sheet '1 v Men or 2 244. I Lark/'21 B 2L 1 A iiorney Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE HIP REST Edith M. Larkin, Lewiston, Idaho Application September20-, 1940; Serial No. 351,645

3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to cushions or pads particularly designedfor the comfort of invalids, or other bed-ridden patients, and theparticular invention is particularly concerned with a hip-rest for useby such persons in relieving and supporting the hips of the user whilein a sitting position in the bed.

An object of the invention is to provide a cushion or pad of thischaracter that will be found particularly useful in conjunction with abackrest for supporting the patient in a sitting position in a manner torelieve strain on the hips of the patient; and the invention togetherwith its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study ofthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional View showing a retainingstrap trained through an apertured corner portion of the pad, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an envelope or outer covering formingpart of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in thepreferred embodiment of the invention the pad or hip-rest comprises arelatively rigid body 5 of wood or other suitable light, durablematerial, and which may be of any suitable edge contour.

The body 5 is, however, preferably formed with a body-accommodatingopening 6, while the under-surface l of the body is relatively flat andthe top surface 8 thereof inclined transversely as shown in Figure 3,wherein it will be seen that in cross section the body 5 issubstantially wedgeshaped with the top surface sloping inwardly from theperiphery of the body towards the center opening 6 thereof.

Secured to the top 8 of the body 5 as by being cemented, or otherwisepositively united therewith, is a substantially circular pad 9 of rubberor other suitable yielding material, and the same rims the opening 6 asshown.

The pad 9 is covered by a substantially circular sheet IU of suitablerubberized material, and the inner marginal edge of the sheet I issecured to-the inner edge of the body 5, while the outer marginal edgeof the sheet I0 is secured to the outer marginal edge of the body in anysuitable manner.

V The pad 9 and surface coveri-ng'lil are of such a shape as to leaveexposed corner portions II of the body 5 as clearly shown in Figure 1,and these corner portions II are provided with'slots or other suitablyshaped apertures I2 through which, as shown in Figure 1, are trainedretaining straps I3 of webbing or other suitable material and which maybe employed as shown for securing the cushion in position on the bed.When using the straps I3 the same may be engaged either with thehead-rest I4 of the bed as shown, or with the supports of a back-rest atopposite sides of the latter so that the cushion will be held on thebedagainst casual displacement and in the desired position relativeeither to the back-rest or, as shown in Figure 1, relative to a pillowI5, or whatever other medium may be resorted to for supporting the backof the patient when in a sitting posture.

Also, in accordance with the present invention there is provided for thecushion an outer envelope indicated generally by the reference numeralIS.

The envelope I6 is preferably formed of muslin,

; or some other suitable and easily laundered material, and consists ofpanels I! and I8 stitched together at their outer marginal edges as atI9.

The panel I8, which may be referred to as the bottom panel of theenvelope, extends over and substantially closes the opening 6 in thebody 5, while the panel ll, which may be referred to as the top panel ofthe envelope, is provided with a circular opening that registers withthe opening 6. Stitched to the edge of the panel I! formed by saidopening is a center piece or section 2!], the piece 20 being circularand stitched at its edge to the aforementioned edge of the panel l! asat 2 I.

At the widest end thereof the panels ii and I8 of the envelope 6 aremutually free of one another to provide at said end of the envelope anopening for the insertion thereinto or the removal therefrom of the padbody 5 and associated parts; the panels I1 and I8 at the open end of theenvelope being cut on a bias, as indicated generally at 22,

to accommodate and leave exposed the aperture corners II of the body 5so as not to interfere with the engagement of the retaining straps withsaid corners II.

For the opening so formed in the envelope there is provided a suitableclosure 23, the same, in the present instance, being shown as a slidefastener; the sets of tongues of such fastener being secured in theusual manner to the free edges of the panels I! and I8, these tonguesbeing interlocked with and detached from each other through the mediumof the usual slide 24. In this connection it will, of course, beunderstood that any suitable fastener may be employed for closing theopen end of the envelope.

A5 is believed to be obvious, in use, the cushion is placed on the bedin front of the pillow, back-rest, or other suitable support so that thepatient sitting on the pad may rest his back against such support asprovided for that purpose.

The anchoring straps l3, when resorted to, will serve to hold thecushion in proper position beneath the patient and the sponge rubber pad9 on the body 5 will give a comfortable, stable. support with thedesired cushioning effect.

It will also be apparent that the device can be easily handled, readilycleaned, and readily posi-' tioned within, or removed from the envelope,and which latter, when removed from the device, can be laundered atsmall cost.

It is thought that the utility and advantages of an invention of thischaracter will be had Without a more detailed description thereof.

It is also to be understood that it is in no wise intended to restrictthe invention to any particular size or materials, and accordingly claimis made to all such forms of the invention to which I am entitled in thelight of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In an invalid cushion, a body member formed of substantially rigidmaterial, said body member being provided with a center opening andhaving the top surface thereof sloping inwardly from the outer marginaledge thereof towards said opening, a cushion element mounted on the topside of said body, said cushion element being of substantially ringshape to provide an opening, said opening aligning with the opening inthe body member and said cushion element being of resilient material, asurface .covering of zes /384s rubberized fabric for said cushionelement and secured at its inner and outer marginal edges to said bodymember said body member having parts thereof extending laterally beyondsaid cushion element and apertured, and retaining straps for the cushionthreaded through the apertures in said extended parts of said bodymember for use in securing the cushion in position against casualdisplacement.

2. In an invalid cushion, a body member of substantially rigid materialand having a depression in its upper face for receiving the buttocks ofa person sitting up in bed, the lower face of the body member beingsubstantially flat to rest on a part of the bed, a resilientsubstantially ring-shaped pad mounted on the said body member with theopening, formed by the ring shape of the pad, being in alignment withthe depression of the body member, said body member having parts thereofextending laterally beyond said pad and apertured, and retaining strapsfor the cushion threaded through the apertures in said extended parts ofsaid body member for use in securing the cushion in position againstcasual displacement.

3. In an invalid cushion, a body member of substantially rigid materialand having an opening therein for receiving the buttocks of a personsitting up in a bed, the underface of the body member being flat to reston a part of a bed and the upper face sloping toward the opening, asubstantially ring-shaped resilient pad threaded on said body member andhaving the opening, formed by the ring shape of the pad, in alignmentwith the opening in the body member, said body member having partsthereof extending laterally beyond said pad and apertured, and retainingstraps for the cushion threaded through the apertures in said extendingparts of said body member for use in securing the cushion to parts of abed in position against casual displacement.

EDITH M. LARKIN.

